Leader Guide
Relay Game
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
- Four similar containers—empty oatmeal cans, small boxes, 3–4 qt. pans, etc.
- Rice, un-popped popcorn, beans, or sand
- Two identical measuring cups, scoops, or plastic drinking cups—about ½ to ¾ cup measure is ideal
- Optional: tarps or plastic to protect the floor
- Broom for cleanup
Measure out the same amount of rice/corn/beans/sand into two separate containers, one for each team. Each child should be able to take at least one measure full.
Place two “storehouse” containers at one end of the room.
Place the two full “grain” containers at the other end of the room.
Place a cup/scoop in each “grain” container.
Optional: lay out the tarps to protect the floor.
Note: You may wish to play this game outside. For larger classes, add more supplies and make more teams.
Divide the class into two teams and have them line up next to the filled containers. Read Genesis 41:33-36:
“Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”
Joseph had just been released from jail. God filled Joseph with wisdom to accurately interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of carrying out God’s plan to save the people during the 7-year famine. Today, we are going to play a fun game and fill the storehouses up! The two empty containers represent the storehouses in Egypt where the grain will be stored during the 7 years of plenty.
Pretend that we are in the 7 years of plenty in Egypt. Our job is to quickly fill the storehouses with grain before the 7 years of famine begin. This is a relay race where you will fill your cup/scoop with “grain” and walk quickly to your team’s storehouse and pour the cup/scoop of “grain” into it. You will then return to the line and hand the cup/scoop to the next player on your team who then takes a turn. The first team to move all of their “grain” to the storehouse wins.
Play additional rounds as time permits.
Discuss:
- How did Joseph have the wisdom to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and put a plan in place to store enough grain to last 7 years for an entire nation?
- How would you feel if you were Joseph—you were a slave for many years and suddenly you are second in command in Egypt?
- Do you think Joseph ever wondered if the 7 years of famine would come, and if it did, would the grain stored be enough? Or, do you think Joseph trusted God’s plan and had no doubts?
Do you think that as Joseph looked back on his life, he was happy and thankful to be a part of God’s plan despite all the hardships he endured?